Saint of the Day – 7 January – Blessed Albert of Siena ECMC (Died c1181) Hermit of St Romuald’s Camaldolese Hermits of Mount Corona, Pilgrim, Penitent, Ascetic, Miracle-worker. Born at Asciano, near Siena in the early 1100s and died in Montealceto not far from his birth Town in c1181 of natural causes. The name Albert means – shining through nobility (Old High German). Also known as – Alberto.
From his earliest childhood, Albert gave proofs of his future holiness by taking food from his mother only at certain times, as if he wanted to fast and, when he was a little older, he set aside three days a week for fasting.
In addition, he made great and long pilgrimages – to Rome, to Apulia, to Mount Gargano, to Venice, to the Promised Land and to Compostella and lived as a Hermit after his return.
The Camaldolese Monk Anselm, often came to him, where they would scourge each other to tame the flesh. Albert then went to Poitou to St William , who had previously been a Count but had given up all worldly riches and honours and become a Monk.
Albert increased his mortification and penances. He put on hair clothes, slept on the bare ground, often stayed awake all night, ate and drank little and because, he wanted to earn his bread by manual labour, like his forefathers in the Egyptian desert, he turned to farming.
Through his intercession, many and varied miracles occurred, in particular water was often turned into wine through his prayers. But because he was held in great esteem by the people because of these miracles, Albert withdrew into solitude again and for this purpose went with his relative Grifolus to Mount Toricelli which, until there arrival had remained un inhabited due to its reputation for violent storms and high winds.
Here, he and his cousin, Grifolus, themselves little cells and Albert drove away the storms and winds by prayer which, prayer remains in force to this day, preventing the recurrence and return of sorms and high winds!
Albert refreshed the workers who came to assist the cultivation of the land, with a small vessel of wine which multiplied miraculously.
After Albert had lived a holy life on this mountain for 27 years, it happened that one day, while he was working in the fields, a hare ran up the wide sleeve of his habit. Those present wanted to kill the animal but he would not allow that and instead set it free. But the animal had hardly been outside when it jumped at him again to hide because it sensed the danger of nearby hunters. Because of this incident, Albert is depicted in paintings with a hare sitting in his sleeve.
During his holy life he had to endure many snares from the devil, who particularly attacked him in the form of a woman but he remained victorious and drove him out of his cell with blows. But, when the saint felt strong temptations, he rolled himself in nettles, following the example of St Benedict.
According to some traditions, Albert last lived in the Hermitage of Montalceto, not far from his hometown, He died there in the peace of Christ around the year 1181.
AnaStpaul 